Special Education in Charter Schools Event

SPECIAL EDUCATION IN CHARTER SCHOOLS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

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Charter schools, like all public schools, are obligated to serve students with disabilities. Yet for many charter schools in Chicago and throughout the country, a variety of obstacles make meeting this obligation extraordinarily difficult.

This conference, designed for educators, lawyers, and policymakers, explored the legal and policy context for special education in charter schools, discussed the current state of special education in Chicago’s charter schools, and provided examples of best practices, both locally and nationally. Paul O’Neill, an education law professor, attorney, and charter school founder who is among the nation’s foremost experts on charter schools and special education, provided the luncheon address. The program also included training sessions on school discipline and implementation of special education services led by representatives from Chicago Public Schools, Illinois State Board of Education, Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, Franczek Radelet, and Loyola University Chicago School of Education.

During this session, Dr. Ahearn explained how certain aspects of a state’s charter school law— including whether a charter school is its own district (also known as local education agency (LEA)) or part of another LEA for purposes of special education — determines allocation of responsibilities for special education.

Bruce Boyer, moderatorClinical Professor and Director, Civitas ChildLaw ClinicLoyola University Chicago School of Law

This panel discussed the types of policies, procedures and infrastructure that charter schools should implement to ensure that they have complied with their obligations under federal law. Panelists addressed enrollment, identification of students with disabilities, services, staffing, and budgetary planning, among other topics.

This panel considered schools’ obligations to students with disabilities within the context of school discipline. Working through various hypothetical scenarios, panelists will discuss student handbooks and codes of conduct, disciplinary policies and procedures, and accommodations for students with disabilities.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

Eileen Ahearn

Project Director, National Association of State Directorsof Special Education